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Interesting. If you stayed to the end of this video a message flashes on screen - How long do you spend on act 1 vs act 2 and 3? Meaning the first act, the set up, is crucial. Quick answer - for whatever reason I usually fly through act 1. For me itís the easiest one to write, and it usually received well. But where I really lose it and struggle the most is the second act. For whatever reason my story loses steam, or my brain becomes clogged or whatever. Maybe itís because Iím not setting things up well enough in act 1 so I can come back to it in the second act. I donít know. Definitely food for thought.

StevenClark - I think every screenwriter has struggled with what you describe. Recently I've realized this is why it's prudent to come up with your ending before you write.

Then the goal becomes building towards something clearly defined, rather than aimlessly wading forward in the hope that something materializes. It's like pro wrestling once upon a time. The wrestlers are given the finish before-hand, and it's their responsibility to build towards it in a believable fashion.

StevenClark - I think every screenwriter has struggled with what you describe. Recently I've realized this is why it's prudent to come up with your ending before you write.

Then the goal becomes building towards something clearly defined, rather than aimlessly wading forward in the hope that something materializes. It's like pro wrestling once upon a time. The wrestlers are given the finish before-hand, and it's their responsibility to build towards it in a believable fashion.

If the first and second act of my features looks like a pro wrestling match Iím in trouble.

But I hear what youíre saying. I try never to start a screenplay (anymore) without a clearly defined ending. Or at least a resolution that lets the characters handle it the way they want to.

The first mistake a screenwriter can make is watching YouTube videos. The second is actually listening to whatever it is they have to say. The third mistake is putting what they say into practise.

If your screenplay doesn't sell, it doesn't mean it's a bad screenplay. It doesn't mean there is something wrong with it.

Iím not that highly evolved yet. What I mean is I think weíre always learning, or never too good to learn new tricks. I think everyone needs to go back to school every once in a while. That said, YouTube videos are like someone who posts a critique on your script. You can either agree or disagree. It doesnít hurt to watch videos, especially by produced screenwriters talking about their methods or writing style. I take what I want, discard the rest. I would hope that most of us are smart enough to know we donít have to take these informative videos as gospel.

Iím not that highly evolved yet. What I mean is I think weíre always learning, or never too good to learn new tricks. I think everyone needs to go back to school every once in a while. That said, YouTube videos are like someone who posts a critique on your script. You can either agree or disagree. It doesnít hurt to watch videos, especially by produced screenwriters talking about their methods or writing style. I take what I want, discard the rest. I would hope that most of us are smart enough to know we donít have to take these informative videos as gospel.

Yeah, completely agree with this.

In my professional life I'm a commercial director, so run and manage sales teams. The idea that advice (and good advice) or training shoiuld be discarded is usually the sign of someone who won't end up hitting the top numbers.

Writers should be open-minded to all sources, and always place the message > the messenger.

Fair enough if others see it differently, but I'm definitely of the view that it's important to be a sponge in life.

Interesting. If you stayed to the end of this video a message flashes on screen - How long do you spend on act 1 vs act 2 and 3? Meaning the first act, the set up, is crucial. Quick answer - for whatever reason I usually fly through act 1. For me itís the easiest one to write, and it usually received well. But where I really lose it and struggle the most is the second act. For whatever reason my story loses steam, or my brain becomes clogged or whatever. Maybe itís because Iím not setting things up well enough in act 1 so I can come back to it in the second act. I donít know. Definitely food for thought.

Not sure if it fits or not - but if you lose steam in your second act it may be due to a lack of reversal(s). i.e., if you breeze through the set-up, goal setting, etc and find that your story loses steam, you may benefit from some reversals - e.g., just as your hero gets closer to his goal, he/she hits a speed bump that derails them. Just spit-balling.

Not a bad video per se. I just always cringe when I see something like "Mistakes That Writers Make" because often they are not mistakes.

Mistakes are typos, format errors, etc. Personally, I would never apply the term to story structure.

Yes, I've seen many good films that mirror the advice given in this video. Conversely, I've seen many good films that don't. i.e., one should use the structure that best tells the story. Sometimes that means the inciting incident takes place on page 1. Sometimes it means it takes place on page 30. etc. etc. To me, the only thing that matters is that - from your title page on - are you generating enough interest for your reader to turn to the next page.

Not sure if it fits or not - but if you lose steam in your second act it may be due to a lack of reversal(s). i.e., if you breeze through the set-up, goal setting, etc and find that your story loses steam, you may benefit from some reversals - e.g., just as your hero gets closer to his goal, he/she hits a speed bump that derails them. Just spit-balling.

Itís possible about the reversals, Dave. Iíll have to think on that - Iím already dealing with the ďmirrorĒ moment that ScarTissue spoke about, so that might have something to do with it.

I think the bigger problem is being able to develop a head of steam and see it through to the end. With Christmasville I knew exactly how it ended, no ifs or buts about it. But other features Iíve found that either I lost interest in it after the first act - all that set up - or worse yet, I was unable to think of interesting situations to put my characters in to navigate the second act. The second act, to me, has always been this gray area - fun and games they call it - where Iíve sat and stared at the page thinking where in the hell do I go now? Perhaps, just perhaps, Iíve been outlining too much and overthinking things. Iím working on a feature right now and So far Iím not having this issue. Then again, I havenít done an outline for this feature at all, and that was a conscious decision. I wanted to try something different and let the story and the characters decisions unfold as I go. So far the experiment has been quite liberating.